Salt River Project has partnered with Maricopa Advanced Technology Education Center and high tech manufacturing industry association SEMI to bring a national high-tech science program to Scottsdale's Coronado High School.

The three-day High Tech U program at Coronado is the first of three that SRP is sponsoring to encourage students to consider jobs in biotechnology.

The program, created by California-based SEMI, was established to increase interest in high-tech careers. Since 2001, more than 1,600 students in 10 states have participated in High Tech U.

As part of SRP's sponsorship agreement, the program was modified to include a biotechnology emphasis. Among their many activities, students work in teams on labs, visit a college campus, and prepare for mock job interviews.

The program is a response to a 2005 study commissioned by SRP and the Maricopa County Community College District that projected double-digit growth in regional high-tech manufacturing jobs over the next few years, but a dwindling pipeline of local technical talent.

Nikki Jo Brown, project manager for SRP, told East Valley Tribune that SRP decided to bring High Tech U to Valley high schools to address this issue.

"We try to identify students with potential [who] maybe have not been fired up by school yet," Lisa Anderson, vice-president of SEMI Foundation, told Arizona Republic. "We want to fire them up."

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More information:

SRP news release, 04/23/2007

"Program lures students into high-tech world," Arizona Republic, 05/02/2007

"High Tech U gives hands-on experience," East Valley Tribune, 05/03/2007